Discerning the Spiritual Seasons of Life

A wise Christian will be able to discern the seasons of their life. There are times for everything. In Ecclesiastes 3:1 it says:

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens”

The facts of life

The world operates on God’s time. The seasons of the earth, the sunrise and sunset, the rise and fall of civilizations, rulers time in power and stepping down, and even down to individual people. Each person, Christian or not, has times of happiness and times of sorrow, times of wealth and times of need. When I first started writing this post, I had the theme song of the Facts of Life stuck in my head. I think it was God’s little funny to put that into my mind. You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have the facts of life. The facts of life! Hey, it fits the topic at hand. Everyone has good and bad, peaks and valleys in life..the facts of li…oh, nevermind.

It’s important to know what season you’re in. Why? Because God uses those seasons of life for Christians to help them grow spiritually. If we can be aware when we are in the valley (which isn’t usually hard to know), we can ask God what He is doing in our lives and instead of grumbling and whining (which is usually harder to do) about who turned off the light in this dark valley, we can grow and be shaped from the experience. It’s usually when we are at our lowest when we are being shaped the most into God’s Son, Jesus Christ. It’s when we rely the most on God to help us. God has promised to turn our bad situations into good ones in Romans 8:28 we see this:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

So what does that mean? It means even though we may be having a hard time financially or when you feel lost and alone in the world, God is there and He is using your bad situation and is turning it into something good. You’re coming out of that valley more Christ-like then when you went in. Christ Himself had seasons in life. There were probably times that He enjoyed and had laughs with Mary and the disciples, but Jesus also had some bad seasons of life, like just before He was going to be arrested, He prayed:

Matthew 26:39 – “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

He was praying; Father, I know what’s going to happen. The pain, the torture, My death. If it’s possible for another way Father, please let it be so. I understand, it is Your will Father that I came here to do, not My Own. That’s most definitely a valley, and it trumps anything I have ever went through in my life. So when we go through our low points in life, we are in nothing that Christ hasn’t already seen and done. He should have copyrights on the been there, done that t-shirts.

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”

We, as Christians are promised trouble in this world. Why? Because as Christ followers, we aren’t of this world. The prince of this world (satan) will make for sure we will have some trouble. Especially when we are getting closer to God. But don’t get discouraged, God has promised that He will protect us and will not let us encounter something that we couldn’t handle with His help!

1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptationhas overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be temptedbeyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

With valleys come the peaks. The times when you’re bursting at the seams with joy and happiness. It’s our responsibility to help the others who are having a rough time. We help them get out of the valley and up to the “higher ground” where we are. We are called to encourage one another and lift up each other with our words. We are called to love one another. Helping each other through the seasons of life. It’s part of being in the Body of Christ. It’s part of who we, as Christians, should be. We will face trouble, but if we focus on God and encourage and help one another showing the love God has shown us, we will be alright.

If you enjoyed this article, I ask that you please comment and share it! Thank you!

Great post! It’s not always easy to live in the season God has for us…until we rest in the knowledge that it is HE who has ordained it for us

http://www.certainchristian.com/ Bryan Cole

Yep, I think some Christians have a hard time seeing what God is doing in their lives while they are *in* the situation. I know when I look back at moments in my life, I can see God’s hand over it but I’m still learning to realize to do what I said in the article, look for God’s purpose in whatever is going on right now in my life.

Ltyson533

As I read this article it reminds me of what I must continue to do as a Christian and for my Christian brothers and sister and not to forgot the souls that desire to become christians. God will show us who through our relationship with Him.

http://www.certainchristian.com/ Bryan Cole

I’m glad this has helped you in some way! Thank you for your comment and I agree, God will guide us where He wants us to be so we can help others for His glory.

MrsHolmanBaybe

Thanx for this article….

http://www.certainchristian.com/ Bryan Cole

You are very welcome

Thelma Curry

This is what I needed to hear today. Thanks so much for this article.

http://www.certainchristian.com/ Bryan Cole

Thelma-
I’m so glad this article helped you in some way. You are very welcome!